Jason Collins has been warmly received in his historic return to the NBA. Now it's time for his own fans to welcome him back, as the Brooklyn Nets play their first home game since the openly gay player joined the team.

After his eight-minute cameo in Brooklyn's 112-89 win over the Denver Nuggets on Thursday night, Jason Collins, the first openly gay athlete in America's four major sports, met with the parents of slain Wyoming college student Matthew Shepard.

Deron Williams took a moment to snap a few photos of Brooklyn teammate Jason Collins at their shootaround in Portland. He couldn't help it: The NBA's first openly gay player was surrounded by a throng of cameras, and at least for the next week or so, Collins will be the face of the Nets wherever they go.

Jason Collins has received support from everyone from his teammates to Billie Jean King since becoming the first openly gay athlete to play in one of the United States' four major professional leagues.

Jason Collins, the 34-year-old NBA journeyman who admitted this week he is gay, becomes a free agent on July 1 -- meaning that he will first have to sign with an NBA team and wait until next season to see if teammates, coaches, opponents and fans will treat him any differently.